Photo: Pixabay
Hippocrates, an ancient Greek philosopher and physician, is considered the father of naturopathic medicine, whose fundamental principles are based on natural healing.
The Naturopathic Oath states, “I dedicate myself to service to humanity as a practitioner of the art and science of naturopathic medicine. By precept, education, and example, I will assist and encourage others to enhance the health, reduce the risk of disease, and preserve the health of our planet for ourselves and future generations. I will continually strive to improve my abilities. I will conduct my naturopathic life and practice with honesty and openness. I will keep secrets that should not be divulged. I will respect the naturopathic principles: first, do no harm; cooperate with nature’s healing powers; address the root causes of disease; heal the whole person through individualized treatment; teach the principles of healthy living and preventive medicine. In the presence of these witnesses, as a naturopathic physician, I pledge with all my heart to remain true to this Oath.”
Do personal or organizational ideologies take precedence over fundamental principles of medical practice? I don’t think so.
Medicine is the science and practice of managing patient care, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment and alleviation of injury and illness. Medicine involves doctors who use medicines, which are chemicals (and compounds), to treat illness. Without wanting to be too rhetorical, medicine is also an art, and healing is obviously more than the interaction of chemicals.
Most doctors would agree that the purpose of medical practice is to prevent disease, pain, and suffering. Medicines are chemicals or compounds used to treat, thwart, or prevent disease, relieve symptoms, and aid in the diagnosis of illness. Advances in medicine have enabled doctors to treat many illnesses and save countless lives.
A drug is defined as a chemical that, when ingested, induces a change in the physiology of an organism. Many foods, plants, and plant-derived chemicals can be drugs. They are considered natural because of their origin and the way they are used. A drug is considered natural when it is used to aid in nature’s natural healing processes.
Acetaminophen or paracetamol is the most commonly used over-the-counter pain medication in the world. Acetaminophen was originally extracted from crude oil or coal tar. More recently, it has been synthesized from a similar compound called parahydroxybenzoic acid, which is found in poplar trees. So is acetaminophen a natural product? This question applies to many drugs and medicines extracted from plants and other natural sources.
Between 50 and 60 percent of medicines are isolated or extracted from plants or herbs and then mass-synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry: aspirin from willow bark, foxglove from digitalis, metformin from common rue, colchicine from crocus, atropine from belladonna, L-dopa from maca beans, penicillin from mold, theophylline from cocoa, and caffeine from coffee.
Since 2009, licensed naturopathic physicians in British Columbia have been able to prescribe most approved medicines. This scope of practice has expanded to include prescribing antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, painkillers and hormones. This reservation of rights has made me a better physician and better served my patients. I am able to use many natural medicines to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
If a physician’s goal is to help sick people get better, the more tools I have available to diagnose and treat, the better. If I ascribe to a particular belief or philosophy that places limitations on the tools or approaches I use, then I would be limiting myself and it would probably not be in the best interest of my patients.
Nothing is permanent except change. Over time, things change, evolve, and adapt to new circumstances. The same is true in medical practice. New diseases and illnesses emerge. New medicines and treatments are discovered.
As naturopathy develops in modern times, it is advantageous to incorporate practices that ultimately help patients recover. Still, you can stay true to your roots and adhere to the basic principles and philosophy of naturopathy. The principles involved in the use and prescription of medicines determine whether they are “natural” or not.
There’s an old Native American saying that goes, “There are many roads in a forest, but they all lead to the same place on the other side.”
One thing I’ve learned in over 30 years of practicing naturopathic medicine is that there are many different ways of doing things, which means there are many treatments that are not mainstream or conventional.
I know that sometimes natural remedies can be a bitter pill to swallow.
The information provided in this article does not constitute, nor is it intended to constitute, medical advice. All information and content is for general informational purposes only.
This article was written by or on behalf of an external columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
